CUTTING DEVICE

Abstract

A cutting device having a spring that is compressed. After a firing pin retainer has travelled a predetermined path, a locking element is released. The release results in the spring being released, causing the firing pin to be accelerated and at the end to strike a percussion cap, whereby a pyrotechnic charge therein is ignited and thereby a delay element, if provided, is lit. This delay element regulates the delay time. Afterwards, an additional charge is ignited. The gas volume thus generated applies pressure to the cutting element. Above a certain pressure the shear pin shears off, causing the cutting element to be axially accelerated. The cutting element strikes the stop at high speed as a result of the acceleration, and penetrates into same. A connection to be cut, which is guided through an opening in front of the stop, is thereby severed.

Claims

1. A cutting device comprising: at least one firing-pin holder; at least one locking element; at least one spring; at least one firing pin; a percussion cap; a charge; a cutting element; a stop; and a shear pin, wherein the at least one locking element ensures a connection between the firing-pin holder and the firing pin.

2. The cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pyrotechnic delay element is arranged between the percussion cap and the propellant charge.

3. The cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shear pin is accommodated in a front casing.

4. The cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting element is a chisel.

5. A munition comprising: submunitions with a brake parachute; and a cutting device as claimed in claim 1 for severing a mechanical connection between the brake parachute and the submunition, wherein the mechanical connection is located in an opening in front of the stop.

6. The munition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the munition is a munition for generating a decoy target.

7. A parachute system comprising a cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical connection which is to be severed is arranged in an opening in front of the stop.

8. A vehicle having superstructures or subassemblies attached to a vehicle structure via mechanical connections and a cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical connection which is to be severed is located in an opening in front of the stop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a cutting device according to the invention;

[0017] FIGS. 2-4 show a sectional illustration of the cutting device in the assembled state; and

[0018] FIG. 5 shows an alternative attachment option.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a cutting device 20 having a firing-pin holder 1, at least one ball 2, two 0 rings 3, 4, which form sealing rings, a cover 5 and also a spring 6 and a firing pin 7. The cutting device 20 also comprises a cap 8, a percussion cap 9 and also a central piece 10 and a pyrotechnic delay element 11. A threaded sealing disk is denoted by 12, a propellant charge by 13, a chisel by 14 and a stop by 15. The cutting device 20 is completed by a shear pin 17, which is accommodated in a front casing 16. A union nut 18 retains the shear pin 17 in the front casing 16.

[0020] Functioning is as follows:

[0021] A tensile force pulls the firing-pin holder 1 out of the cover 5. The force necessary for this purpose is adjusted via the spring 6, in this case in the form of a compression spring. Once the firing-pin holder 1 has covered a predetermined distance, the at least one ball 2 (locking element) is freed. This at least one ball 2 constitutes the connection between the firing-pin holder 1 and the firing pin 7. As the ball(s) 2 is or are freed, the connection between the firing-pin holder 1 and the firing pin 7 is eliminated. This leads to the spring 6 being relieved of stressing. As a result of the spring 6 being relieved of stressing, the firing pin 7 is accelerated and, the end, strikes against the percussion cap 9. By virtue of the firing pin 7 striking against the percussion cap 9, the pyrotechnic composition therein is ignited. By virtue of the pyrotechnic composition in the percussion cap being initiated, the delay element 11 is ignited. The latter regulates the delay time. The delay time can be set as desired. It can even be 0 seconds. Once the delay element 11 has burnt out, a further pyrotechnic compositionpropellant charge 13is ignited at its end. The resulting gas volume subjects the cutting element 14, in this case the chisel, to pressure. Above a certain pressure, the shear pin 17 is sheared, as a result of which the cutting element 14 is accelerated axially. The cutting element 14 strikes against the stop 15 at high speed, resulting from the acceleration, and, in the process, penetrates into said stop. A connection which is to be cut, and is guided through an opening in front of the stop 15, is severed here.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the cutting device 20 at the point in time at which the spring 6 has been subjected to stressing and the ball(s) 2 are freed. FIG. 3 illustrates the point in time at which the spring 6 has been relieved of stressing and the delay element 11 is being ignited. FIG. 4, in turn, follows the point in time at which the connection which is to be cut is severed.

[0023] FIG. 5 contains a variant for fitting the cutting device 20 in a system.

[0024] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.